Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Philippians 4:16

καὶ ἐν Θεσσαλονίκῃ. That is, even when I was no further away from you than Thessalonica; so prompt and generous were you.—See Acts 17:1-9.—Thessalonica was just 100 Roman (about 92 English) miles from Philippi, on the Via Egnatia. Amphipolis and Apollonia were the two intermediate stations, each about 30 miles from the other and from one of the two other towns. Apparently Paul and Silas, leaving Philippi and hastening to Thessalonica, passed only a night at each intermediate place, and remained at least some weeks at Thessalonica. See Conybeare and H., ch. ix; and Lewin, L. and E. of St Paul, vol. I. ch. xi. Thessalonica was thus St Paul’s first long pause; and it lay comparatively near Philippi.

καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ δὶς. Within no very long time. In Acts 17:2 we read of σάββατα τρία before the disturbances began. No certain note of time is given afterwards; but the withdrawal to Berœa was not long delayed. Short as the stay was, it was long enough to produce profound impressions, as the Thessalonian Epistles testify.

εἰς τὴν χρείαν μοι. At Thessalonica he refused to take support from the converts, and worked for his living. See 1 Thessalonians 2:9, νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας ἐργαζόμενοι, πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐπιβαρῆσαί τινα ὑμῶν, ἐκηρύξαμεν εἰς ὑμᾶς τὸ εὐ. τοῦ θεοῦ.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Philippians 4:16

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